Michael Abrahams | Bad words and double standards

Speaking at a workers’ appreciation ceremony in Savanna-la-Mar, Westmoreland, last month, St Catherine South Western member of parliament (MP) Everald Warmington embarked on an expletive-laden tirade.

He emphatically told the audience that even if they think the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) candidate, George Wright, might be an a**hole, he is better than a PNP a**hole, and they should close their eyes and vote for Andrew Holness and “put the ‘x’ beside the f**king bell.” At one point, he shouted at the crowd, “Andrew Holness born yah, wah di r**s wrong wid yuh?” and “Andrew Holness born yah, wah di f**k wrong wid yuh?”

Videos from the meeting shared on social media drew a slew of negative reactions, with people criticising Warmington for his vulgarity. As expected, the People’s National Party (PNP) had much to say about Warmington’s politically partisan profanity parade. General Secretary Dr Dayton Campbell, while addressing the audience at the party’s Frome divisional conference, in the same parish, rebuked Warmington and said the police should take the same action against him as they do against dancehall artistes who use expletives during their live performances. In those instances, the offenders were arrested, charged and fined. Party leader and Leader of the Opposition Mark Golding, while speaking on one of the stops on his tour, told his audience that he was proud of the team who toured with him because on their numerous stops he never heard “one word of profanity” or “dirty bad word” because “we are behaving in a decent manner and we want a decent campaign.”

NATIONAL ‘FABRICS’

But, as we say here in Jamaica, “cock mout’ kill cock.” Shortly after Golding heaped praises on his team for keeping it clean, he released one of our national ‘fabrics’. While at the podium at one of his tour stops, as he enthusiastically greeted the crowd, Golding perceived an issue with his mic, and after tapping it a couple of times in an effort to get it to comply, uttered ‘bl**dcl**t’. Golding thought the mic was malfunctioning, but the audience heard him just fine, as did the multitude who watched the viral video of his faux pas.

Interestingly, less than one week later, on the eve of Reggae Sumfest, the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) issued a stern warning to artistes slated to perform at the festival. During an interview with the Jamaica Observer, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Eron Samuels, head of the St James Police Division, stated that the promoters of the event were instructed to inform performers that the police would have a “zero-tolerance approach” to the use of profanity during their performances. Jamaica does have a profanity law. According to Section 9C of the Towns and Communities Act, the use of expletives in public spaces can lead to a fine of up to $1,500 and/or a jail sentence of up to 30 days.

For me, there is much to unpack from the above mentioned sequence of events. First, from a political perspective, the PNP’s poverty of astuteness continues to amaze me. They have a right to call out Warmington for his boorishness. However, for them to suggest that he be charged, with the party leader boasting that his party is above using expletives on political platforms, only for him to eject the aforementioned sanguinary rag at a podium, astounds me. The PNP has a penchant for making gaffes on political platforms, gifting the JLP with ammunition to use against them, and this is a prime example as it reeks of hypocrisy. Yes, the contexts are different. Warmington went on a vociferous “tracing spree”, while Golding’s utterance was muttered out of frustration. However, at the end of the day, both individuals publicly uttered expletives.

HYPOCRISY

Second, the hypocrisy and double standard demonstrated by the JCF is disturbing. The warning from the police came on the heels of Warmington and Golding’s utterances. Both politicians apologised, but neither was fined. One may disagree with the law, but it does exist and has been applied on several occasions, including incidents involving dancehall artistes who have used expletives on stage. For example, during his set at Reggae Sumfest in 2023, dancehall artiste Bayka was pulled offstage during his set for using profanity and briefly detained and subsequently charged by the police. So why should Warmington and Golding be given a pass?

Third, it begs the question, why is there no code of conduct for our politicians? In 2023, our Minister of Legal and Constitutional Affairs, Marlene Malahoo Forte, announced that a draft code of conduct had been submitted to Parliament, but the document is yet to be finalised. No penalties have been announced for inappropriate conduct. Warmington is a repeat offender and been allowed to unleash his unhinged uncouthness with impunity. He has told a female television anchor to “Go to hell” during a live broadcast, used a book to hit a female Gleaner intern’s camera, been photographed showing the middle finger to journalists, has repeatedly launched racially prejudicial and incendiary attacks on Opposition Leader Mark Golding, and now offers us this swear word salvo with no consequences.

I disagree with the existence of a law against swearing. Legislating words, to me, is preposterous. However, it would behoove our political leaders to be mindful of their public pronouncements and set appropriate examples for our citizenry, especially our youth. After all, they are “leaders.” If there is no code of conduct and no consequences, what is there to deter them from taking to platforms and repeatedly behaving unacceptably? Also, if the law exists and is applied to some, it should be applied to all. Warmington and Golding should at least be fined. A $1,500 is unlikely to prompt them to file for bankruptcy or adversely affect their investment portfolios, especially in the wake of the gargantuan salary increases they were awarded in 2023. It is a matter of principle.

Michael Abrahams is an obstetrician and gynaecologist, social commentator, and human-rights advocate. Send feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com and michabe_1999@hotmail.com, or follow him on X , formerly Twitter, @mikeyabrahams